To Look Beyond…

It was a mere sentence at a wedding that got me thinking, “All good things come from Allah s.w.t”. Often it is that we
utter these words but seldom do we internalize this all-encompassing, over-whelming concept.

This idea, this feeling, this belief calls for, nay DEMANDS an annihilation of the “self” and creates an awareness of a Higher Being. When the “self” ceases to be, in recognition of a Higher Being and the soul submits in this new-found awareness. At this point everything around you should speak to you of God. Every moment should become a moment of reflection, of reveling in His Glory, rejoicing in His Majesty. Hence every moment, an Ibadah!

When you start looking at the world, eyes widened, with this new found vision, to look at things and to be able to look beyond! The universe in all its complexity, beauty in all its simplicity, nature in all its majesty, the noise, the silence, the order and the chaos, EVERY SINGLE THING speaks of Him! Submits!

It is mere foolishness to just LOOK at all this, and not SEE. To look at the birds and not wonder about the beauty of the Creator, to go to the beach and gaze upon the sea and not wonder at the majesty of our Rabb. To look at the lush green fields and not wonder at the As-Salaam, The Give-er of peace. To look at the sky and not wonder about The Infinite, The Eternal.

“So have they not traveled through the earth and have hearts by which to reason and ears by which to hear? For indeed, it is not eyes that are blinded, but blinded are the hearts which are within the breasts.” – Surah Al-Hajj-46

If one had this vision, this love, this burning desire to see The Creator, Our Rabb in everything, everything else would cease to be important and fade into insignificance. Eventually to look at the good and the bad that comes to us as a means of getting closer to HIM only.

And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.). (Qur’an 2:155)

This, my friends, is the secret of letting go of grudges and ill-feelings and gaining your own peace. Remember it is not people or circumstances that hurt you, but that Allah s.w.t wants you to be closer to Him. It is not a trial but an opportunity to find Him! And this is when you start seeing life for what it is!

And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Hereafter for those who are Al¬Muttaqûn. Will you not then understand? (Surah Al-An`aam : 32)

To see God in everything, that is the beauty of life! It is what the “complete/content soul” wants, that every moment becomes a reminder of Him, of submission, of love. For to love is to love completely, heart, body and soul, or not to love at all! Remember your fore-father Ibrahim a.s and remember also his love, devotion and complete submission when he said:

“When his Lord said to him “submit” he said, “I submit to the Lord of the worlds”– (Surah Al Baqarah:131)
Ah! The beauty in submission to the One Lord, the Lord of the worlds!

“This life is just a moment, so let it be a moment of obedience.” Imam Ash-Shafiee (r )

Such a soul, the content soul or the nafs-mutmainah, the soul that finds peace in submission, in the Decree of its Lord, for him it`ll be said: